Metal seal



Oct. 26, 1937. J. J. PEFIQQUIN 2,097,079

METAL SEAL Filed Nov. 6, 1936 luvs/Wop JoA vA/Es JAcaaus PEROU/M PER ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNETEE STATES METAL SEAL Joannes Jacobus Perquin, The Hague, Netherlands Application November 6, 1936, Serial No. 109,501 In Germany September 28, 1936 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a metal seal to be fixed to a cord or like binding means, namely by using special pliers performing the closing up of the seal.

The invention has for object to improve the seals of this type known at present, so as to prevent them from being opened and reused without being damaged.

Seals of this type are known and they comprise two parts, namely a label intended for reproducing the address or trade mark or any other similar indication, and a tapered tongue having its side edges standing upwards and bent inwardly,

said edges being provided with a row of teeth.

This tongue is adapted to be rolled up around the cord, by means of convenient pliers. At the line of separation between the tongue and the label bearing the mark or address, is provided a weakening line, so that, when trying to open the seal, both parts will become separated from each other.

It has, however, been observed that, during transport or manipulations, there remains a possibility of damaging the seal, by shocks or onother occurrences, so as to make them without any value, although there is no question of fraud. Moreover, such seals in the known shape do not provide a full security against fraud.

The invention has for object an improved seal of this type, which does not present the said drawbacks.

The unauthorized opening of this seal consists in partially unrolling again the tongue of this seal for separating it from the cord by shifting. This is not a simple operation, however, it is possible, and this by the fact that the rolled up tongue constitutes a perfectly rectilinear tube.

In order to prevent the unrolling and shifting, it is firstly provided to make the teeth of both upstanding edges sharper and to direct them inwards, but in such a manner that, under the effect of the rolling movement, the teeth penetrate obliquely into the binding cords, so that it becomes quite impossible to shift the seal along the cords, and it is also impossible to bend the teeth outwards so as to make them inoperative in this way.

In order to increase the gripping effect of the seal, the tapered end of the tongue is provided with two sharp prongs pointing forwards. By the fact that this tongue is shorter and by an appropriate structure of the rolling element of the pliers, the tongue is rolled up in a more compact manner, so that the two mentioned prongs pene- (Cl. 40-2a) trate into and grip simultaneously the binding cords.

By a special arrangement in the pliers, which constitute a tool especially constructed to be used with the seals only, the tongue, after it has been rolled in the form of a tube, is finally bent over its whole length, so as to become arched, and both ends of this tube are finally flattened. During this rolling up of the tongue, the casing-like impression provided at the connection between the label and the tongue will be impressed with a groove directed parallel to the weakening line of the seal.

The arched deformation, the flattening of the ends and the impression of the groove complete the seal up to the highest perfection, by the fact that the material from which it is made is put under stress, and this tension is transmitted upon the aforesaid weakening line between the tongue and the label bearing the mark or address.

This groove indeed represents a particular characteristic by the fact that in normal use, the weakening line is reinforced by producing this groove, this for preventing an undesirable breaking; but when trying to unroll the seal and to release it in any manner, the tension is Wholly transmitted upon the weakening line, the technical function of which becomes considerably increased. Extensive and elaborate experiences, even in wholesale utilizations, efficiently proved the. impossibility to open the seal and to reuse it.

The invention will be described hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the metal seal according to the invention and as it is before being used.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the seal.

Fig. 3 is an end view upon the seal before being used.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate respectively a side elevation and a plan view of the seal when it has been fixed to a binding means, for instance a cord.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a closed seal viewed upon the other side than that of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an end view of the closed seal.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the seal is formed with a rectangular label I, integral with a tongue 2 of triangular shape, and the end 6 of this tongue is slightly bent and provided with two sharp prongs. This end 6 engages particularly the mouth of the pliers for the purpose of being rolled up. This tongue has upstanding side edges 4 and 5, which increase somewhat in width in the direction of the rectangular label I, and the teeth of these edges are bent inwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. These teeth will thus efliciently penetrate into the binding means when the tongue- ,shaped element will be rolled up. The prongs of the bent portion 6 cooperate to grip the cord, whereas furthermore a ring of small teeth 9, provided in the plane of the tongue, will also cooperate to grip the binding cord. The label I is bent outwardly at 3, so as to form in the material a casing-like recess 1 limited at both ends by an upstanding prong or tooth 8. These prongs bent over the rolled-up tongue cooperate to firmly retain the seal upon the binding cord and to prevent the undesirable breaking of the seal during manipulation.

The seal is weakened by a transverse line a, Figs. 2 and 3, in order to disclose the unauthorized opening of the seal by an easy breaking of the rolled up tongue. This weakening line is furthermore completed by the provision of an opening b, which enables it to be ascertained that the tongue 2 has been broken to separate it from the label I and'has been fixed again thereto by soldering. During the rolling up of the tongue 2, however, the weakening a is pressed by the pliers, so that a projecting rib c is formed upon the casing I produced by the impression of the adjacent material, and this projection temporarily reinforces the weakening line; however, when the seal is opened with a fraudulent intention, this rib-will more surely and more rapidly enable the breaking of the rolled up portion of the seal.

Figs. 6 and 7 clearly illustrate how the rolled a having its tapered end provided with sharp prongs and its lateral edges bent inwardly and formed with teeth which slightly increase in size in the direction towards the label, the material of the seal being depressed intermediate the label and the tongue to form a casing-like recess for lodging the tongue when rolled up, and a weakening line being provided at the base of the tapered tongue.

2. A seal of metal for gripping a cord or like binding means, comprising a label and a tapered tongue integral therewith adapted to be rolled up around the cord by means of pliers, the tongue having its tapered end provided with sharp prongs and its lateral edges bent inwardly and formed with teeth which slightly increase in size in the direction towards the label, a ring of prongs being formed in the plane of the tongue, the material of the seal being depressed intermediate the label and the tongue to form a casing-like recess for lodging the tongue when rolled up, prongs being provided at each end of the recess, and a-weakeningline with a central hole being provided at the base of the tapered tongue.

3. A seal of metal for gripping a cord or like binding means, comprising a label and a tapered tongue integral therewith adapted to be rolled up around the cord 'by" means of pliers, the tongue having its tapered end-provided with sharp prongs and its lateral edges bent inwardly and formed with teeth which slightly increase in size in the direction towards the label, the material of the seal being depressed intermediate the-label and the tongue to form a casing-like recess for lodging the tongue when-rolled up, the rolled tongue with its casing-being curved and flattened at the ends, and a weakening line being provided at-the base of the tapered tongue.

4.- Aseal .oflmetal for gripping a cord or like having its tapered end provided with sharp.

prongs andjitslateral edges bent inwardly and formed with teeth which slightly increase in size in the direction towards the label, the material of the seal being depressed intermediate .the label and the tongue to form a.casing-like recess for lodging the tongue .when .rolled up, .the rolled; tongue .With its casing being curved and flattened.

at the ends, and a weakening line being provided a groove adjacent thereto.

JOANNES JACOBUS PERQUIN.

at. the base of the tapered tongue, said weakening line being caused to project outwards by providing 

